Electronic butler for providing application services to a user

ABSTRACT

An electronic butler interface application service providing module is provided in a framework for providing computing device executed application services to a user using a plurality of application service providing modules, each of which provides a subset of the application services to the user. The electronic butler has an associated personality and is configured to respond to inquiries relating to the user, provide information to the user regarding inquiries relating to the user, provide reminders of events to the user, request additional information from a user, provide security for transactions for the user, conduct scheduled actions for the user and/or communicate with different ones of the application service providing modules to provide for determined needs for a user.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/924,072 entitled “METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR PROVIDING APPLICATION SERVICES TO A USER,” filed Aug. 23, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to computing devices, and more particularly to such devices supporting a variety of different applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Computing devices are used for providing a wide variety of applications support to users. As used herein, the term “computing device” refers to any equipment with computational capability or that is integrated with equipment with computational ability. Accordingly, as used herein, computing device can include one or more enterprise, application, personal, pervasive and/or embedded computer systems that perform computational operations and associated input and/or output devices or components thereof. Examples of computing devices, as used herein, include computer workstations, personal digital assistants, cell phones, email pagers, automobile navigation systems, and computer-controlled appliances.

As computing devices and application programs for the same evolve, along with networks interconnecting such devices, the range of customer (user) services that can be provided by computing devices is becoming increasingly complex. As a result, some customers are experiencing problems in assimilating and utilizing these computing device based application services. As a result, despite the range of available services, service functionality is generally self-limited and self-defeating and different types of application services are generally developed separately, often with only an operating system, such as the Windows operating system from Microsoft Corporation, in common. While such an operating system may provide an integrated framework allowing application programs to access hardware of a computing device, no integrating framework at an application level is provided, even though technology is becoming available which may be used to enable such a framework (e.g., Web Services and Liberty Alliance using extensible markup language (XML) over Simple Object Access Profile (SOAP) over hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) over Internet protocol (IP)).

Re-usable components for application services programs may include, for example, small pieces like code objects, a few types of standard “servers” such as Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) and, a small number of standard “functions” such as authentication. As a result, such service offerings generally do not build on each other and no model or method may be available to facilitate needed interactions. Even “bundled” services, such as Office available from Microsoft Corporation, are hardly integrated in functionality, even though they may achieve data interchange compatibility. As such, service complexity generally rises too fast for customers/users as features are added, thereby reducing ease-of-use and ultimate value to the user of such application services. In addition, architectural complexity may rise too fast for conceptual designers & developers as features are added, such that increasing errors and development time and cost may result. Furthermore, security is typically piece-meal, separate, incomplete, insufficient and/or too hard to use.

Human butlers provide valuable services, but are generally expensive and may be unreliable. They are also not inherently connected to electronic services and networks, which makes them less effective at accessing these services. An electronic butler functionality or service may inherently interface with and utilize other electronic services and networks, and may securely provide improved versions of the typical functionality that a human butler could otherwise provide, although generally with greater reliability and lower cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments of the present invention, an electronic butler interface application service providing module is provided in a framework for providing computing device executed application services to a user using a plurality of application service providing modules, each of which provides a subset of the application services to the user. The electronic butler has an associated personality and is configured to respond to inquiries relating to the user, provide information to the user regarding inquiries relating to the user, provide reminders of events to the user, request additional information from a user, provide security for transactions for the user, conduct scheduled actions for the user and/or communicate with different ones of the application service providing modules to provide for determined needs for a user.

In other embodiments of the present invention, methods for providing an electronic butler for providing application services to a user include determining a context for the electronic butler and receiving an input. Data associated with the received input is obtained from a database associated with the butler. A need is determined based on the obtained data and the context. Provisioning of the determined need is initiated and output is provided to the user based on the input and/or provision of the determined need. Additional input may be obtained from the user and a further need may be determined based on the additional input, the obtained data and/or the context and provisioning of the determined further need may be initiated.

In further embodiments of the present invention, obtaining additional input is preceded by associating one of a plurality of available personalities with the electronic butler and providing output includes providing the output based on the associated one of the available personalities. The associated one of the available personalities may define one or more of an accent, a communication syntax, a vocabulary, a sense of urgency, a speed of communication, a timing pattern of communication, a level of detail of communication and/or a preciseness of communication by the electronic butler to the user.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the determined context includes one or more of a security level, a household operating mode, a business operating mode, an urgency level and/or an identification of actions currently underway. The household operating mode may be awake, working, playing and/or sleeping. The urgency level may include a low level corresponding to receiving the input a first time and an elevated level corresponding to receiving the input an additional time before obtaining additional input from the user. The urgency level may be an escalation level and, when the urgency level comprises an escalation level, determining a further need may be preceded by obtaining additional input from a designated user different from the user.

In yet further embodiments of the present invention, receiving an input includes obtaining information regarding a scheduled future event and initiating provision of the determined need includes initiating provision of the determined need at a time based on the obtained information regarding the scheduled future event. Providing output to the user, obtaining additional input from the user and/or initiating provision of the determined further need may be executed at a time based on the obtained information regarding the scheduled future event.

In other embodiments of the present invention, initiating provision of a determined need and/or initiating provision of a determined future need includes determining a personal security, privacy and/or reputation consequence for the user of provision of the determined need and/or determined further need and limiting provision of the determined need and/or determined further need based on the determined personal security, privacy and/or reputation consequence for the user. Limiting provision of the need(s) may include notifying the user of the determined personal security, privacy and/or reputation consequence for the user and obtaining authorization from the user before initiating provision of the determined need and/or determined further need.

In yet other embodiments of the present invention, the input is ringing of a doorbell at the user's residence and the context is a household operating mode. The obtained data is a preference/policy associated with the user and the need is notifying the user. The output is announcing the presence of a visitor at a location associated with the ringing of the doorbell.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the input is the receipt of an electronic message or email and the context is a household operating mode. The obtained data is a preference/policy associated with the user and the need is notifying the user and/or automatically responding to the message or email. The output is announcing the presence of the incoming message/email and/or automatically selecting and sending a response to the originator of the message/email.

In further embodiments of the present invention, methods for providing an electronic butler interface application service providing module in a framework for providing computing device executed application services to a user using a plurality of application service providing modules, each of which provides a subset of the application services to the user, include receiving an input from an input/output device communicatively coupled to the framework. The received input is translated to at least one need to be satisfied. At least one of the plurality of application service providing modules required for satisfying the at least one need is identified and execution of actions by the identified at least one of the plurality of application service providing modules to satisfy the at least one need is requested. Output is provided to the user based on the input and/or execution of the actions.

In other embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of preference/policies are associated with the user and translating the received input to at least one need to be satisfied includes translating the received input to at least one need to be satisfied based on the preference/policies associated with the user. A plurality of personality profiles may be provided and the electronic butler interface application service providing module may be configured to incorporate a selected one of the plurality of personality profiles to provide an interface to the user having characteristics defined by the selected one of the personality profiles. One of the personality profiles may be selected responsive to a request from the user.

In further embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of application service providing modules are each associated with a dynamic context. The dynamic context for an application service providing module is dependent on a condition of another of the application service providing modules that is not determinable based only on communications resulting from execution of the actions. Requesting execution of actions by the identified application service providing modules to satisfy the at least one need may include scheduling execution of actions by the identified application service providing modules to satisfy the at least one need based on a current condition of the dynamic context associated with the identified application service providing modules. Requesting execution of actions by the identified at least one of the plurality of application service providing modules to satisfy the at least one need may include requesting execution of actions by the identified at least one of the plurality of application service providing modules to satisfy the at least one need based on dynamic context associated with at least one of the application service providing modules, dynamic context associated with interface modules of the framework coupling the application service providing modules and/or dynamic context associated with infrastructure modules of the framework.

In other embodiments of the present invention, a security module is communicatively coupled to the electronic butler interface application service providing module and requesting execution of actions by the identified at least one of the plurality of application service providing modules to satisfy the at least one need includes obtaining security context information from the security module and requesting execution of actions by the identified at least one of the plurality of application service providing modules to satisfy the at least one need based on the obtained security context information from the security module.

While described above primarily with reference to method aspects, it will be understood that the present invention further includes system and computer program product aspects.

Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according to embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computer program products be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data processing system suitable for use in some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system for providing application services to a user according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 3-6 are flowcharts of operations that may be performed according to various embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

Accordingly, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description of the figures.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The present invention is described below with reference to block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations of methods, apparatus (systems) and/or computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It is understood that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, and/or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer and/or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the block diagrams and/or flowchart block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the block diagrams and/or flowchart block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified in the block diagrams and/or flowchart block or blocks.

Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.). Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable or computer-readable program code embodied in the medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system. In the context of this document, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.

It should also be noted that in some alternate implementations, the functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the flowcharts. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.

Finally, it will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first portion could be termed a second portion, and, similarly, a second portion could be termed a first portion without departing from the teachings of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a computing device or data processing system 130 configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The data processing system 130, which may be incorporated in, for example, a personal computer, a PDA, a wireless terminal/phone, a smart appliance or the like, may include a user interface 144, including, for example, input device(s) such as a keyboard or keypad, a display, a speaker and/or microphone, and a memory 136 that communicate with a processor 138. The data processing system 130 may further include an I/O data port(s) 146 that also communicates with the processor 138. The I/O data ports 146 can be used to transfer information between the data processing system 130 and another computer system or a network using, for example, an Internet protocol (IP) connection. These components may be conventional components such as those used in many conventional data processing systems, which may be configured to operate as described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a system 268 for providing computing device executed application services to a user is provided that illustrates systems, methods, and computer program products in accordance with embodiments of the present invention as will now be discussed. The processor 138 communicates with the memory 136 via an address/data bus 248. The processor 138 can be any commercially available or custom enterprise, application, personal, pervasive and/or embedded microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor or the like. The memory 136 may include any memory devices containing the software and data used to implement the functionality of the data processing system 130. The memory 136 can include, but is not limited to, the following types of devices: ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, SRAM, and DRAM.

As shown in FIG. 2, the memory 136 may include several categories of software and data used in the system 268: an operating system 252; application programs 254; input/output (I/O) device drivers 258; and data 256. As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the operating system 252 may be any operating system suitable for use with a data processing system, such as OS/2, AIX or zOS from International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., Windows95, Windows98, Windows2000, WindowsCE, or WindowsXP from Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash., Palm OS, Symbian OS, Cisco IOS, VxWorks, Unix or Linux. The I/O device drivers 258 typically include software routines accessed through the operating system 252 by the application programs 254 to communicate with devices such as the I/O data port(s) 146 and certain memory 136 components. The application programs 254 are illustrative of the programs that implement the various features of the system 268 and preferably include at least one application that supports operations according to embodiments of the present invention. Finally, the data 256 represents the static and dynamic data used by the application programs 254, the operating system 252, the I/O device drivers 258, and other software programs that may reside in the memory 136.

As further illustrated in FIG. 2, according to some embodiments of the present invention the application programs 254 include application service providing modules 265 and a coordination module 270. In addition, a security module 275, an interface module(s) 280 and/or an automation module 285 may be provided. Other embodiments of the present invention include the service providing modules 265 and the security module 275 and optionally other of the modules. The service providing modules 265 are application service providing modules, each of which provides a subset of the application services to a user supported by the system 268 for providing computing device executed application services to a user. In some embodiments of the present invention, the coordination module 270 is configured to translate requests from a user to need(s) and to schedule execution of actions by ones of the plurality of application service providing modules 265 to satisfy the need(s). The security module 275 may be configured to receive security context information from ones of the plurality of applications service providing modules 265, define a security level global context based on the received security context information and communicate the security level global context to the plurality of application service providing modules 265. The interface module(s) 280 in some embodiments of the present invention are not visible to the user, whereas the application service providing modules 265 may be visible. The interface module(s) 280 may communicatively couple the application service providing modules 265 to each other and dynamically restrict communications in-progress between the application service providing modules 265. The automation module 285 may be configured to receive information regarding user requests and needs and predict future needs for the user and possible actions based on processing rules for the user.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the data 256 includes one or more personality profiles 260. One or more of the application service providing modules 265 is configured to incorporate a selected one of the plurality of personality profiles 260 to provide an interface to a user having characteristics defined by the selected one of the personality profiles 260.

In yet other embodiments of the present invention, one or more of the application service providing modules 265 is provided a respective subset of the application services to be provided to the user that is grouped based on an anthropomorphic model of non-computing device based providers of corresponding application services. In other words, the grouping of services supported by a particular application service providing module may be modeled in a manner where the grouping of services for a particular module are based on human counterpart service providers rather than a programming model or the like. The anthropomorphic model subsets of each application service providing module may then be communicatively coupled by the interface module(s) 280.

The security control module 275 may be configured to communicate with the application service providing modules 265 to define an integrated security model for the system to control operations of the application service providing modules 265 based on the integrated security model. The interface module(s) 280 may be configured to communicatively couple the application service providing modules 265 and filter communications between the application service providing modules 265 based on the integrated security model. The security control module 275 may be configured to communicate with the interface module(s) 280 to define the integrated security model. Thus, the integrated security model may be utilized to control both the sending of messages by the application service providing modules 265 and to control filtering out of messages to and from the application service providing modules 265 at the interface module(s) 280. The integrated security model may also be used to control re-assignment of tasks or services from one or a group of application service providers to another one or group of same, and this may be effected by the interface module(s) and/or security-related modules.

Additional aspects of the data 256 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in FIG. 2. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the data 256 may include user based preferences/policies 259, the personality profiles 260, dynamic context (including context unit) information 262 and/or state machine model(s) 264. The user based preferences/policies 259 may be used to change operations for providing computing device executed application services to a user based on particular characteristics or desires of the respective user.

As discussed above, the personality profiles 260 may be used to provide a selectable personality for an application service providing module 265 for all and/or selected users. The dynamic context information 262 provides a dynamic context database accessible to the various application programs 254 that, as will be described further with reference to the flow charts below, may be used to modify operations and delivery of application services responsive to the dynamic context of various components of the system. The interlocked state machine model(s) 264 may be used to control operations and application service providing so as to provide enhanced security and control opportunities. As used herein “interlocked” state machine model(s) refers to the interrelationship between models for respective nodes or application service providing modules and/or the flows related to communications between those nodes as seen, for example, at interface module(s) between the nodes in carrying out user need fulfillment operations or other operations, as, for example, various overhead operations needed to maintain or enable basic functioning.

Also illustrated in the embodiments of FIG. 2 is an electronic butler interface application service providing module (electronic butler) 265′ that may be provided in a framework for providing computing device executed application services to a user using the plurality of application service providing modules 265. The electronic butler 265′ may be configured to respond to inquiries relating to the user, provide information to the user regarding inquiries relating to the user, provide reminders of events to the user, request additional information from a user, provide security for transactions for the user, conduct scheduled actions for the user and/or communicate with different ones of the application service providing modules to provide for determined needs for a user.

While the present invention is illustrated with reference to the various modules 265, 265′, 270, 275, 280, 285 being application programs in FIG. 2, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, other configurations fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, rather than being an application program, the interface module 280 may also be incorporated into the operating system 252 or other such logical division of the data processing system 130. Furthermore, while the various application programs 254 are illustrated in a single data processing system, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, such functionality may be distributed across one or more data processing systems. For example, the security module 275 may be resident on a distinct device from the application service providing modules 265, and various application service providing modules 265 may be resident on different devices, and distinct instantiations of the same application service providing module may be resident on different devices. Thus, the present invention should not be construed as limited to the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 2, but may be provided by other arrangements and/or divisions of function between data processing systems. In fact, as will be clear from the description herein, the functionalities of the present invention will typically be distributed across a network of communicatively coupled computing devices and may utilize a variety of input/output devices to provide application services to users.

Operations according to various embodiments of the present invention will now be further described with reference to the flow chart illustrations of FIGS. 3 through 7. Referring first to FIG. 3, methods for providing computing devices executed application services to a user using a plurality of application service providing modules, each of which provides a subset of application service to the user, will now be described for various embodiments of the present invention. Operations begin at Block 300 with associating one of a plurality of available personalities with the electronic butler. However, it will be understood that, in other embodiments of the present invention, the electronic butler interface module 265′ may have a fixed rather than selectable personality. A context is also determined for the electronic butler interface 265′ (Block 305). An input is received by the electronic butler interface module 265′ (Block 305). For example, the doorbell at a user's residence may be rung, an electronic message/email may be received, a phone call may be received or other like inquiry directed to the user. The input may also be an input from the user requesting some support or action from the electronic butler interface module 265′.

The electronic butler interface module 265′ obtains data associated with received input from a database associated with the butler, stored, for example, in memory 136. For example, electronic butler 265′ may obtain information allowing the input to be classified as for example, a person or message, and may also identify the message or person associated with the input by accessing a data store including identifying data and, for example, perform a best match identifying the data with the input received at Block 310.

One or more needs is determined based on the obtained data and the context (Block 320). Operations at Block 320 may be performed by the electronic butler 265′ alone or in combination with other of the service providing modules 265, the coordination module 270, the security module 275 and/or the automation module 285. For example, some input types may require the electronic butler 265′ to consult with the security module 275. The electronic butler 265′ may also obtain additional information in determining need, such as determining user based preferences/policies 259 related to the user and/or the input. In some embodiments of the present invention, operations in determining a need include identifying a variety of different options and selecting a best initial and/or option sequence where alternative needs or actions may be initiated when the initially selected best option is unsuccessful and/or unsatisfactory. The ordering of response options may itself be based on the context information obtained at Block 305, as well as pre-configured rules and algorithms.

Provisioning of the determined need is initiated (Block 325). For example, in some embodiments of the present invention utilizing the various framework modules discussed herein, a formulated need may be sent to a composer application service providing module that may, for example, announce the arrival of a visitor using input/output devices available in the user's home. The execution of the action may be structured by the composer and subsequently carried out by other of the application service providing modules 265 depending upon the need being fulfilled. In the context of the electronic butler 265′ for the illustrated embodiments of FIG. 3 output is provided to the user based on the input and/or provision of the determined need (Block 330). The output may be as described above, as simple as an announcement of a visitor to the user. The delivery of the output may itself be based on, for example, the personality associated with the butler at Block 300. The personality associated with the butler may define, for example, an accent, a communication syntax, a vocabulary, a sense of urgency, a speed of communication, a timing pattern of communication, a level of detail of communication and/or a preciseness of communication by the electronic butler 265′ to the user. Combinations of these different personality characteristics may be grouped and associated with an anthropomorphic stereotype of butler behavior, such as an Italian butler versus an English traditional butler.

The context for the butler at Block 305 may include general, user specific and technical context aspects. The determined context may include one or more of a security level, a user status or operating mode, a household operating mode, a business operating mode, an urgency level and/or an identification of actions currently under way. The optional user and/or household operating modes may include, for example, awake, working, playing and/or sleeping. The urgency level may include a low level corresponding to receiving an input for a first time and an elevated level corresponding to receiving the same input an additional time before obtaining input or response from the user.

It will be understood that, while described above with respect to a input triggering an immediate determination of an execution of an action, an input may be received providing information regarding a scheduled future event and initiating provision of the determined need at Block 325 may occur at a time in the future based on the obtained information regarding the scheduled event. Similarly, output may be provided to the user at subsequent times and additional input may be obtained from the user, for example, responsive to the timed output to the user, such as a reminder, at the scheduled future time based on the obtained information regarding the scheduled future event as well.

Further embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the flow chart illustration of FIG. 4. FIG. 4 illustrates additional operations related to providing an electronic butler for providing application services to the user that may be carried out in some embodiments in addition to or instead of operations described with reference to the embodiments of FIG. 3. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 4, operations begin by obtaining additional input where the additional input is received from the user, subsequent to receipt of initial input as described with reference to Block 310 above (Block 400). If an urgency level context indicating an escalation level has been identified, additional input may be obtained from one or more designated users different from the user (Block 405). For example, if a received inquiry at Block 310 relates to a minor, input may be obtained from a user designated as a parent or guardian before determining what need should be fulfilled for the minor child user. A further need is then determined based on the additional input from the user and/or from the additional user, the obtained data from Block 315 and/or the determined context at Block 305 (Block 410). In addition, data associated with the additional input may be obtained (Block 415).

In the particular embodiments illustrated in FIG. 4, the electronic butler 265 may obtain additional information before initiating actions to fulfill the determined needs. For example, as illustrated at Block 420, the electronic butler 265′ may determine a personal security, privacy and/or reputation consequence for the user predicated upon a provision of the determined need(s). Provision of the determined need(s) may then be limited based on the limited personal security, privacy and/or reputation consequence for the user as will be described by the example operations for limiting at Blocks 425 and 430. As shown at Block 425, the user may be notified of the determined personal security, privacy and/or reputation consequence for the user. Authorization may then be obtained from the user before initiating provision of the determined need(s) (Block 430). Alternatively, based on pre-configured rules and user preference/profile information, authorization may also be obtained from the different user providing additional input at Block 405. Provisioning of the determined further need from Block 410 is then initiated (Block 435).

Methods for providing an electronic butler interface application service providing module in a framework providing computing device executed application service to a user using a plurality of application service providing modules, each of which provides a subset of the application services to user, according to some embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the flowchart illustration of FIG. 5. Operations begin at Block 500 for the embodiments of FIG. 5 by receiving at the electronic butler 265′ an input from an input/output device communicatively coupled to the framework. The received input is translated to at least one need to be satisfied (Block 505). One or more the plurality of application service providing modules required for satisfying the need(s) is identified (Block 510). Execution of actions by the identified application service providing module(s) to satisfy the need(s) is requested (Block 515). Output is provided to the user based on the input at Block 500 and/or execution of the actions requested at Block 515 (Block 520).

A variety of different information may be obtained and considered by the electronic butler 265′ in carrying out the operations described with referenced to FIG. 5. Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the flow chart illustration of FIG. 6. It will be understood that one or a combination of written operations described with reference to FIG. 6 may be used in combination of operations with reference to FIG. 5 in differing embodiments of the present invention. A plurality of preference/policies may be associated with the user supported by the electronic butler 265′and the user's associated preference/policies may be obtained by the electronic butler for use in translating received input to need(s) to be satisfied (Block 600). In some embodiments of the present invention, ones of the plurality of application service providing modules are associated with a dynamic context. The dynamic context provided to the application service providing module is dependent on the condition of another of the application service providing modules that is not determinable based only on communications resulting from execution of the actions by the modules. The dynamic context may be determined by the electronic butler 265 for the execution of actions by identified application service providing modules to satisfy the need(s), which may be requested by scheduling execution of actions by the identified application service providing module(s) based on a current condition of the dynamic context associated with the identified application service providing module(s) (Block 605). It will be understood that the dynamic context may further be associated with interface modules of the framework coupling the application service providing modules and/or dynamic context may be associated with the infrastructure modules of the framework and dynamic context information regarding such additional modules may also be considered in requesting actions and/or identifying needs.

In some embodiments of the present invention the security module 275 is communicatively coupled to the electronic butler interface application service providing module 265′ and security context information is obtained by/provided to the electronic butler 265′ from/by the security module 275′ (Block 610). The requesting execution of actions by the application service providing module(s) to satisfy the need(s) may be based on the obtained security context information from the security module 275.

As shown at Block 615, operations before scheduling execution of actions by the electronic butler may also include determining a personal security, privacy and/or reputation consequence for the user of satisfying the need(s) (Block 615). The determined personal security, privacy and/or reputation consequence may also be considered in requesting execution of applications by the identified module(s). Based on all or a combination of individual ones of the information obtained at Blocks 600 through 615, execution of the actions to fulfill needs are scheduled (Block 620).

Context within an application service providing framework generally refers to detailed internal conditions/indications/assessments at various points and hierarchies within the framework, not simply to “what is being connected to,” “what type of transaction is occurring,” “what zone is being accessed,” “what is included in the transaction,” and the like. Pertinent contexts may be referred to by the various framework application service providing components, such as the electronic butler interface module 265′, in order to self-adjust their modes of operation, options they employ, alternate approaches they use in transactions with other components, parameters they use in their internal processing, methods available in their programming, filtering of messages they receive and/or forward, and the like. By being provided access to those particular selected contexts (generated at various points throughout the framework) which (via the design and arrangement of the framework) have particular bearing on its own operations and actions, each framework component (and pre-defined component group) may be provided with the pertinent global-to-local framework knowledge that enables it to modify its operation so as to increase framework security, reliability, and functional flexibility.

As discussed above, a dynamic context may be associated with the application service providing module. The “dynamic context” for an application service providing module, as that term is used herein, is dependent on a condition of another of the application service providing modules, or other modules such as infrastructure modules, that is not determinable based only on communications from the application service providing modules, or other modules, resulting from execution of application service related actions, or the actions of other modules. In other words, the dynamic context as used herein provides information related to an operational condition or security state of others of the application service providing modules, or other modules, that is not determinable merely from transaction communications generated during execution of actions to fulfill needs by the application service providing modules, or by the various functions/actions of the other modules. For implementation efficiency and convenience, this definition may be relaxed somewhat, in that the test of “not determinable” could be replaced with “not easily determinable.” Thus, the dynamic context could involve a variety of different types of information.

As discussed above, various embodiments of the present invention provide a distributed electronic butler service interface for computing device executed application services. Human butlers are generally expensive and may be unreliable. They are also not inherently connected to electronic services and networks, which makes them less effective at accessing these services. An electronic butler functionality or service may inherently interface with and utilize other electronic services and networks, and may securely provide improved versions of the typical functionality that a human butler could otherwise provide, although generally with greater reliability and lower cost. This functionality or service may be provided as an application of the ASPIC framework described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/924,072 entitled “METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR PROVIDING APPLICATION SERVICES TO A USER,” filed Aug. 23, 2004, which was incorporated herein by reference above as if set forth in its entirety.

As was generally discussed above, the functions/features that may be provided by the electronic butler include: answering doors, calls and inquiries of various physical and/or electronic kinds; providing appropriate associated information; providing notifications, reminders, requesting missing data, conducting timed actions; staying informed and requesting information as needed from/via interfacing with other application services (such as calendar, planner, etc.); inherent security; and related human butler associated services.

The distributed electronic butler may also be responsive to the context of the application services framework in which it supports provision of services to a user. For example, a request could be classified as urgent or non-urgent. A request could also be an initial request, intermediate or final. An associated security level maybe classified, for example, as high, medium or low, or be based on a numerical scale (such as a range of 0 to 100). The butler could also be provided with specific security modes or settings. The butler context could also include a household or family “mode” for one or more supported users, such as awake, at work, at play, asleep and/or the like. A corresponding business or group “mode” or other related context may apply. Context may also include actions or interactions currently underway (would could include specific details related to the underlying operations of the application services framework).

User specific context information may also be considered, such as actions or interactions underway for that user (which, again, may include specific details). A user “mode” may also be considered if such is included in a corresponding user profile (e.g., interruptible, private, awake, work, play, sleep and/or the like) possibly with associated preferences. A particular user may also have specific security modes or settings.

Technical context may also be considered by the butler. For example, framework generated flags, modes, alerts, alarms and/or the like (e.g., low resources, security alert, safe mode). Butler specific flags, modes, alerts, alarms and/or the like may also apply (e.g., local failure, slow connection, wait state).

In some embodiments of the present invention, personality differences may be exhibited by the Butler, perhaps depending on the setting. Examples of personality differences may include choice of words, syntax, and/or accent (for vocalized outputs). A sense of urgency indicted by the Butler may also vary and/or speed of response, a level of detail, preciseness and other specific mannerisms that will be understood by those of skill in the art as associated with a human butler.

Within the context of the application services providing framework, the butler may operate as the primary visible component that interacts with users. The butler may have an associated settable “personality” appropriate for the desired interactivity characteristics. The butler may also access other application service providing modules as needed. For example, the butler may interact with the: Data-store, for example, to access user profiles, history, and/or other data; Composer, for example, to initiate actions within the framework; Security Controller, for example, to access security checks and/or functions; and Mediator, for example, to access other visible components and/or externals (users, devices, etc. outside the framework).

The accessed framework components may then engage other components as needed for operation, for example, through the Composer, Security Controller and/or Mediator. The related operation flows may provide output(s) to a user, to other framework modules and/or to externals. Possible flow sequences include: input>framework processing>output; timed events (created by previous framework processing)>processing>output; current framework events>processing>output; and/or external events>processing>output.

An exemplary basic request processing flow for an electronic butler will now be described. A main process loop may await direct or mediated (through anther application service providing or interface module) input. The input may be from a user (e.g., user wishes to allow entry to a visitor), from other application service providing modules (e.g., Planner informs Butler of planned or expected events/deliveries) and/or from external network-interfaced devices/systems (e.g., home door sensors, proximity sensors, video-cameras, home security system and/or other integrated service providing frameworks, perhaps of other, unrelated, users). Upon receiving input, the main process may temporarily branch to appropriate sub-process(es) based on input type, source, value and/or the like. The sub-process(es) perform actions and/or requests, which may be moderated by context within the framework. They may call other sub-processes and/or may interface with other framework components as needed. Once the main process obtains associated result(s) from subprocess(es), operations may branch to an output process. The output process may provide output to a user as appropriate. The form of the output may be moderated by a settable personality of the Electronic Butler and may be responsive to an input, a result of a timed event and/or based on earlier user input or on an earlier non-user input or occurrence. The output process may also provide output to other framework components as appropriate. The output may be responsive to an input, a result of a timed event, based on earlier user input or on an earlier non-user input or occurrence and/or status reports may be provided as needed to other components, such as the Security Controller.

An example of such operations will now be described. Input is received in the form of persons approaching a user's home (for example, from motion and/or proximity sensors, video-camera, voice recorded at the door and/or other similar sensors). Another input may be in the form of an incoming message (e.g., electronic identity assertion, email sender, voice recorded and/or the like). The input may then be classified (e.g., as person, or message) and the context of the Electronic Butler may be updated accordingly. The message or person is identified and the data store is accessed to obtain identifying data associated therewith. A best-match approach may be used in identifying data with input(s). Any appropriate actions/needs may then be determined. In addition, where appropriate, the Security Controller may be consulted, depending on the input type and Electronic Butler context. Related information (e.g., profile) for a particular identity or identities may then be determined and options may be looked up, such as “ignore,” “announce,” “store,” “forward,” “warn off,” and the like. A best option (or option sequence) may then be selected, as well as 2nd best, 3rd best, and the like for a current context.

Once selected, the framework action is then performed. For example, a need may be formulated to send to the Composer (e.g., announce visitor immediately). The Composer may then cause the framework to invoke the necessary modules to effect the announcement and add the event to a stored history record.

Various responses could result from the action (e.g., the visitor announcement). For example, a user may request more information (e.g., requests door intercom be activated). A user may also/instead request a resolution (e.g., door to be unlocked, message to be read or viewed). Finally, no response may be received to the announcement.

This subsequent input, if any, may be classified and the Electronic Butler context may be updated accordingly. The intercom may be activated, door unlocked, or if no response is received to the announcement, a processing rule may be applied. For example, a message may be played and/or an auto-response may be sent, for example, responsive to consultation first with the Security Controller.

To further illustrate some embodiments of the present invention, usage of a simplified (Complete Simplification (CS)) application service framework including a distributed electronic butler according to some embodiments of the present invention will now be described for a hypothetical household including parents, Jim (age 55) and Martha (age 49), their children Megan (age 25), Jason (age 20), Tom (age 15) and Tia (age 10). The family has two pets, named Spot (a dog) and Mittens (a cat). Jim is an accounting manager at a large corporation. Martha runs a part-time business out of their home. Megan works as a salesperson at a discount retailer, while Jason attends a downtown university. Tom and Tia attend local high school and middle school, respectively. The CS framework may utilize the home network, cellular and hotspot networks and Internet services and could be thought of as a “catch-all” for a number of related services potentially bundled together, but may also be a highly-integrated holistic service in its own right.

The framework, when using the Internet Protocol (IP) suite, may be viewed as an evolved IP centric integration of many possible applications that could leverage the flexibility and capability of next generation networking (both wireless & wire-line). It might also be viewed as a richly featured artificial intelligence network for IP. Network/service providers may operate as mediators, providing the logical integration used to obtain the full feature set and capabilities described and possibly to conduct billing, provide high availability & scalability, ensure security, provide automated backups and the like. Various enabling technologies such as wireless local area network (WLAN), Bluetooth, Ultra Wide Band (UWB), integrated wireless-wireline, web services, virtual private network (VPN), biometric & smartcard authentication, non-repudiation, digital rights management (DRM), and the like may be used in providing the framework, however, the depiction described herein does not focus on the enabling technologies. In addition, while this example is presented primarily in a household context, it will be understood that it is likewise extendible to a business environment.

Proceeding now with the example, in the morning, each family member wakes (Megan awakes remotely from the rest of the family in her own apartment, but is included as part of the household by logical association by the CS framework/service. Information and Entertainment components of the CS service provide the appropriate content (variable by user) to each person in the family, and likewise provide the appropriate controls or commands to each wireless-connected device previously associated with each person (or persons). For example, WLAN-controllable and/or Bluetooth-controllable appliances like clock radios, TV tuners, sound systems, lamps or light switches, and the like may be controlled by the CS service via the home gateway and wireless slaves or repeaters. Power-line communication technology could also be used.

Like the rest of the family, Jason wakes and takes a bleary look at the customized news feed, but unlike them he goes back to sleep since his first class is in the afternoon and his class load does not require studying this morning. He recalls he needs to update his schedule so that it better reflects his study habits of the last week or two. Sensing that he does not actually get up, the news feed switches to light jazz (streaming audio) at low volume.

Jim leaves the house for work. In his car he listens to informational MP3's (e.g., audio books or articles) downloaded automatically during the night according to his reading and continuing education settings, first a section of a new bestselling historical novel and then a short briefing on a particular accounting method revising the generally accepted practices central to his profession.

In her car, Megan is driving to see her mother, listening to some new music MP3 files downloaded last night by the CS Entertainment component according to her preferences. Preferences could be detailed or general. Each component could remember preferences for each user. Some preferences could be learned over time, while others would be selectable by the user. Selectable preference profiles might also be used. As it is on her way, she often drops by to have breakfast with her mom prior to being at the store by opening time. As she drives, she tells the car to copy some of the MP3 songs to her sister Tia, subject to applied DRM parameters where a security component of the CS service may block the copy operation. She knows Tia would like this sort of music, and because they commonly share files she is sure Tia does not already have the particular selections.

Martha does some planning for the family while making breakfast and seeing everyone off. A Planner component lists upcoming tasks with known deadlines, including needed pet vaccinations. She finds that the Planner, utilizing the Communicator component, has already checked with the veterinarian's office, for which the CS service authenticates the veterinarian's office computer, and has cross-checked her own schedule, and is suggesting several available appointment times this week to get the required rabies vaccinations for Spot and Mittens. Selecting the one she prefers, the appointment is automatically completed, verified by the vet's office almost immediately, and transferred to her phone/PDA according to her preferences. Martha also notices that Jim's car has notified, for example, by wireless message transmission, the Planner that it is nearly due for an oil change, so she flags that for his attention, in effect raising its priority and sending it to his phone for him to consider (the Planner will remind them again if not scheduled within the next week).

When Megan arrives, the CS Butler component informs Martha that her daughter is entering the driveway. The Butler component may perform some of the typical tasks traditionally associated with a live butler. It might be customizable in many ways, store preferences for household and user, and be selectable in terms of “personality,” as for instance Martha prefers an “Italian” rather than an “English” Butler. Megan uses the thumb-scanner on her phone to unlock, subject to biometric authentication and/or smartcard and private key verification, the side door and makes her way to the kitchen where her mother is warming breakfast. They visit for a half-hour or so. When Megan leaves for work Martha turns to her home business, reviewing updated summaries prepared last night by her Business Assistant. Today, it helps prepare her for an upcoming lunch meeting.

Tom and Tia are on their buses headed for school. High school is tough for Tom this year since he is in advanced placement classes. He pulls up his latest summary session on his data phone to review the points he was having difficulty understanding last night.

Tia's middle school class plans a field trip today to the art museum. She uses her data phone to IM her friends in the other two 4th grade classes, so that they can synchronize their locators, such as global positioning system capabilities of the phone, protected for security/privacy by the CS service, to get together at the museum later. Through a Security component, Martha receives a request for locator usage from Tia's phone, and okay's the request after reviewing the authenticated/verified ID's of the other participants.

At work, Jim uses his data phone as his main phone (it switches to work mode upon sensing the work WLAN). He also stores files on the phone, and transfers files over VPN to his home office PC, with automated file transfers and mirroring. In both cases the Security component recognizes these as work files and applies appropriate restrictions and protections, such as smart card keying to Jim's identification for read restriction of the files. Note that the Security component both intercedes based on recognized context, and also proactively takes actions according to user preferences. Such actions may include arranging and protecting home computer backup data, and could support automated backup of data for Jim's employer as well. When used by an employer, it could perform additional cross-modal security functions such as monitoring home usage of work files and providing associated audit reports to the employer.

Jason eventually wakes up (his Assistant provides a timed sequence of reminders he has previously selected, or included in his selected preference profile) and heads to class. The family Planner updates his phone with various family-schedule data and merges similar information from some of his friends according to his permissions (monitored by the Security component). His Assistant notifies him of non-urgent messages from his father and brother, providing a brief summary. There may be just one Assistant, but since it maintains a different view for each user, it is convenient for each person to think of their own “personal” Assistant, Planner, Communicator, Tutor, etc. On the other hand, for a variety of reasons some CS components would likely be best thought of as shared or imposed rather than personal. For example the Butler is shared and the security component is limited in how it is controlled as it controls security policy.

At school, Tom uses his data phone to store & transfer class assignments. With mediation provided by the Security component, it can interface with the school WLAN and Bluetooth or UWB enabled PCs or laptops or projectors. Rules imposed by the school can be mediated and subsequently enforced by the Security component as well.

At the Museum, Tia downloads additional information on various exhibits into her phone using the museum WLAN. Some of her friends have downloaded info from different exhibits, and upon getting together they share data so that everyone has a full set. The Security component provides protection. For example, filters are set to firewall phone access. Downloaded data, particularly executable types, may be quarantined pending virus scanning. Scanning files may not be possible on the phone itself, but rather may require transfer to another machine. If Tia insists upon viewing or running a quarantined file before returning to home or school, the Security component may expedite scanning for that file over the cellular network depending on service settings and billing rules & limits.

At lunch, Jim uses his data phone and the restaurant WLAN to send & read messages, control his office PC so as to send requested files to colleagues, and to access his home network for personal tasks. The Security component provides needed protection so that these capabilities are safely enabled. Mediation via pre-arranged policy is provided so that an optimal balance of safety versus capability is obtained in all cases.

Martha meets a potential client for lunch, and with her laptop accesses the hotspot WLAN to access sites including her home business web site in order to present a proposal and conduct a demo while two of her partners (each at their own homes in different cities) participate in the discussion. Her Business Assistant provides reminders of important points she wanted to be certain to include. The potential client has a laptop as well, and Martha transfers certain files to that laptop upon request, while the Security component makes certain that her business-related wireless communications are protected. The Security component detects that certain files and communications as business related, and therefore sets up authenticated and encrypted tunnels to protect data transfers. Additionally, the DRM module of the Security component can enforce copyrights by limiting future sharing/copying of DRM'ed material. Note that the Security component would incorporate and direct a number of capabilities and mechanisms to protect “mobile” data.

Other family members similarly have lunch and use their phones and other devices to access network resources, access family network resources, synchronize application data, transfer messages and files, etc. In each case, the CS Security component performs appropriate mediation.

Tia is having lunch with her class at a food court near the museum, and someone with access to the hot spot there is attempting to hack into her phone. The Security component detects a known attack type, estimates the potential severity of the attack and due to that severity exceeding a set threshold, it temporarily locks down her phone's communication feature, allowing only a secure tunnel, this tunnel is strongly authenticated & encrypted, meaning it is cryptographically secure, between her phone and the Security component itself until she moves to another location or a pre-set timer expires. The event is flagged with high priority and sent both to her father's phone (with a message that the problem is currently under control) and to a central CS service security response center. The response center keeps statistics on events such as this. Using special tools such as quick-reaction rapidly-configurable deception hosts and associated monitoring, it may initiate attempts to identify/locate & trap the culprit if possible; else it may work to inoculate all CS-enabled devices against this attack and its determinable variants. Additionally, the Security component downgrades the trust rating of Tia's phone until all its files and data have been thoroughly scanned and the integrity of its system files is suitably verified. Integrity can be verified via cryptographic hashing techniques wherein current hash results can be verified identical to previously calculated results (indicating that no changes to the files have been made).

Later that afternoon, Tom and Tia return home from school. Martha and Tia conduct a short conference with Tia's grandmother, who lives in another city. To view photos and together discuss a digital video of Tia's recent piano recital, they utilize the private portion of the family's external web site. The Security component recognizes identity credentials and allows access. The external web site may have both public and private portions (either one private portion, or multiple separated private portions). All access to the private portion is logged.

Unexpectedly, Tom finds his homework easy for a change, so he finishes it early and spends the rest of the time before dinner in an on-line collaborative gaming competition using premium-billed “turbo” (increased) bandwidth & premium QoS requested from and granted by the network, with the added cost being deducted from his weekly allowance. The Communications module can make the appropriate requests via network service APIs, and the Bill Payment component can either make immediate payment, if required, or tally & queue the payment for after-hours fulfillment. Allowances can be managed by Tom's father using an appropriate CS component such as the family's Planner. In order to accommodate the various additional protocols needed for this gaming service, the family firewall's policy is temporarily altered. The packet filter rule-set is altered to temporarily allow the extra protocol traffic to pass, even though this may lessen security slightly. The extra traffic is allowed to pass only to and from Tom's PC. Accordingly, the Security component's monitoring priority is slightly increased for the duration. Tom's PC, like most of the network-attached devices in the home (and particular each computer), is equipped with a Security component agent/client, which can provide some level of system monitoring, intrusion detection, and attack blocking, also reporting back to the Security component itself for more global oversight. The actions of this agent/client can be adjusted via changing the monitoring priority to different levels appropriate to the overall security situation. Depending on the service plan selected, which Jim and Martha can change on-line at any time, this may require additional payments. If additional payments are required, they can be charged to Jim's account or added to the amount deducted from Tom's allowance balance, depending on options selected by Jim and Martha (e.g., small surcharges may be deducted from allowances while surcharges over a settable threshold may be charged to the parents, with or without requiring verification).

The game requests some personal information, and although Tom should know better he inputs the data and sends it. However, the Absolute Privacy feature of the Security component recognizes the transmitted data, intercepts it, and strips the sensitive information from the transmission. Absolute Privacy consists of network-based monitoring & blocking of sensitive information. In this case, the transmitted data is detected as a close variant of information matching an entry in a list pre-configured by Tom's father. A pop-up notifies Tom, and a medium-priority message is sent to Jim. If Tom desires, he can immediately request an exception from his father by clicking on an option in the pop-up, but he realizes he made a mistake and closes the pop-up instead. The game operates satisfactorily anyhow, so Tom soon forgets about it (although his father does not).

Jim picks up take-out on the way home from work. He and Martha have scheduled many of these occasions in advance, with the Butler, Communicator, and Bill Paying components being directed by the Planner component to arrange, order, and pay for the food in advance. Reminded by the Butler, all Jim needs to do is swing by to pick up the food, briefly checking his phone to make sure the order is correct.

Megan has dinner with friends. Jason has a late lab session. Martha tells the Butler component to chime Tom and Tia, and the family gets together for dinner. The CS service can command their phones, or nearby network-attached devices, to alert them using different tones of pre-selectable meanings (in this case a “dinner is ready” chime), or alternately can use brief digitized voice messages.

At dinner, they discuss the events of the day, casually adding items in turn to the family task list and calendar. Some items are fully detailed whereas other items require further information to be added later. Later, the CS service will remind the appropriate family members to provide the missing information if necessary.

After dinner, Jim spends a half-hour doing some preliminary on-line research regarding a serious medical condition with which Martha's father was recently diagnosed. Not wanting to take any chances that this activity would be recorded or tracked in any way, he engages the Security component's Anonymity Guard so that no record of the medical sites he accesses can be traced to him or the family. The Anonymity Guard routes his traffic through a secure proxy gateway which removes all identifying information and utilized various additional complementary techniques to ensure that no one can identify Jim by his network activity. (The Anonymity Guard also contains a built-in CALEA capability to override anonymity when directed by court order). As he gathers information, he saves files to his personal encrypted Data Vault and copies web site links to a new private section of the family internal web site he configures to allow access to Martha as well as himself. The Data Vault can be set to allow access only to the authenticated owner, or additionally to other persons as well. All data is encrypted using (at least) the public key of the owner, such that only the owner's private key allows decryption. This private key is contained in his smartcard, and is enabled only via successful biometric authentication. The family's internal web site is an expandable re-configurable intranet resource within the home, although access from outside the home can also be granted and coordinated via the Security component (with appropriate imposed policy). After more fully reviewing the information at a later date and discussing it with his wife, he may decide to utilize the Security component's Family VPN capability to arrange access for his father in-law as well. A Family VPN can be initiated between different homes when desired via the Security component and Communicator. (Jim has previously set up a semi-permanent Family VPN between the family home and Megan's apartment.)

As Jim adds links from his web browser to the private web site he just created, the Security component notices another program from Jim's PC attempting to access the Internet. The family firewall would normally allow the traffic to pass since the policy rule-set “allows” the corresponding protocol & port information typically visible to a firewall. However, the Security component is able to detect a discrepancy in the program name, in that the name claimed (and presented to the operating system on Jim's PC) is not the true name of the program. Although it has not yet been able to detect any sensitive information flowing, the Security component nevertheless flags the program traffic as dangerous so that the family firewall can block it. This is logged, and a small pop-up is activated on Jim's computer. Additionally, the Security component adds a deferred task to perform additional scanning and integrity verification on Jim's PC.

Subsequently, Jim and Tia access her School Page, provided by the Education component. Her teachers have inputted various information, files, documents, presentations, and web sites pertinent to the material they are currently covering into the CS system. The provider, possibly with the help of special partners (who pull in additional related material to enhance the learning experience), assembles and updates the CS School Pages for each customer so that the helpful information is always available and up-to-date. Tia has requested help with some new concepts presented in her math class, and Jim uses the information collected on the current material pages of the math section of her updated School Page to help improve her understanding. Jim scans the performance pages as well, and notes that Tia's recent quiz grades are decent but could certainly be improved, so he schedules recurring homework monitoring and help sessions with her for the next several weeks, and allows this information to be provided to her teacher so that she can be aware of their extra efforts. The School Page keeps track of a wide variety of information regarding each student's progress. This information can be viewed manually, or can be selected to be continually summarized and provided to the parents if they wish, such as when a student is having some problems. Alerts can be pre-set based on a variety of triggers (e.g., grades falling below a “B”).

Martha sets up a conference with her two sisters after dinner, and they discuss their parents' upcoming 50th anniversary, making plans and coordinating tasks via their respective Planners. To keep the upcoming celebration a surprise, they use the Security component's Privacy Block feature to keep all related Calendar entries from showing up on their parents' Calendar, which they normally select to be auto-sync'ed such that it can maintain a view of each of their own Calendars. Privacy Block is used to maintain privacy via a variety of techniques depending on the circumstances. For example, it can be used to block others from seeing one or more stored items (individually selected to form a group, or set up as being related). It can also be set to obscure information in a number of ways. Additionally, it can provide deceptive information to others, depending on relative privilege & associated policy (although there are externally imposed limits on this).

Tom watches television content accumulated on the family DVR over the last several days according to his personal preferences, flipping between recorded shows, fast-forwarding past boring sections, and re-winding to see some scenes twice. As he watches, he casually selects associated web content to be bookmarked in his personal Video Page. The Video Page maintained by the Entertainment component for each viewer incorporates self-organizing features so that the viewer can keep links associated with various shows, actors, topics, and genres separate while being cross-related as appropriate. Another of the many internal web pages generated, managed, and made available by the CS service, the Video Page is closely integrated with the DVR-related (and other video-related) features of the Entertainment component.

Jason comes in late that night. His entry into the house is noted and authenticated by the Security component, and is subsequently chimed by the Butler to his parents (who are already in bed). Megan returns late to her apartment as well, as she decided to visit a club with her friends after their dinner. Often she telephones her mother in the evening, as they are very close, but the hour is too late for that, and for such occasions they have prearranged for the Butler to chime her return as well.

That night, the family members sleep while the CS continues to perform certain necessary operations standard security/functional verifications, and to any deferred special checks such as the in-depth scanning & integrity verification for Jim's PC tasked earlier. They remain unaware of the various checks and actions taking place, except for summary results recorded in the CS status log, which they may later view. The CS service Security component conducts after-hours data backups. The Physical Security Sub-module of the Security component monitors the physical security system of the family home and the wireless security system at Megan's apartment. The Communications component stores and prioritizes received messages, which are scanned for viruses by the Security component. Content is downloaded according to the preferences of various users and stored for later use, mediated and cryptographically locked by the DRM module of the Security component. Various additional modules of the Security component monitor the home for potential cyber-intrusions and check for data tampering, malware such as viruses, incursions of undesirable software such as spy-ware, etc. The Bill Payer component makes payments incurred during the day, such as for downloaded DRM'ed content that was actually listened to or viewed. Similarly, other CS components conduct off-hour functions as programmed. A set of changeable heuristic tests is externally applied to the various components to help ensure that they are functioning properly. Other verifications are based on cryptographic principles in conjunction with change logs, ensuring that the only changes made to key system elements are those which were proper and traceable to authorized log events (or hashes/digests).

If any problems are found, the service is designed so that the provider is generally able to diagnose and remedy the situation remotely. Only in rare cases might the family, or at least the parents, have to be alerted for safety's sake. Even then, the CS service is designed to be placed in whichever of several available “safe modes” is appropriate (until a complete restoration to proper functioning can be obtained).

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims. 

1. A method for providing an electronic butler for providing application services to a user, comprising: determining a context for the electronic butler, wherein the determined context includes at least an urgency level and an indication of a condition internal to the electronic butler, wherein the indication of a condition internal to the electronic butler is selected from a group consisting of an internal flag, mode, alert, and alarm, and indicates a low resources, security alert, safe mode, local failure, slow connection, or wait state condition; receiving an input; obtaining data associated with the received input from a database associated with the butler; determining a need based on the obtained data and the context; initiating provisioning of the determined need; obtaining additional input from the user; determining a further need based on the additional input, the obtained data and/or the context; initiating provisioning of the determined further need; and providing output to the user based on the input and/or provisioning of the determined need, wherein the urgency level comprises a low level corresponding to receiving the input a first time and an elevated level corresponding to receiving the input an additional time before obtaining additional input from the user, and wherein receiving an input comprises obtaining information regarding a scheduled future event and wherein initiating provisioning of the determined need comprises initiating provision of the determined need at a time based on the obtained information regarding the scheduled future event.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining additional input is preceded by associating one of a plurality of available personalities with the electronic butler and wherein providing output comprises providing the output based on the associated one of the available personalities.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the associated one of the available personalities defines at least one of an accent, a communication syntax, a vocabulary, a sense of urgency, a speed of communication, a timing pattern of communication, a level of detail of communication and/or a preciseness of communication by the electronic butler to the user.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the determined context further includes at least one of a security level, a user operating mode, a user operating status, a household operating mode, a household operating status, a business operating mode, a business operating status, and/or an identification of actions currently underway.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the household operating mode comprises awake, working, playing and/or sleeping.
 6. The method of claim 4 wherein the user operating mode comprises awake, working, playing and/or sleeping.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the urgency level comprises an escalation level and wherein, when the urgency level is an escalation level, determining a further need is preceded by obtaining additional input from a designated user different from the user.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving an input comprises obtaining information regarding a scheduled future event and wherein at least one of providing output to the user and obtaining additional input from the user and/or initiating provision of the determined further need is executed at a time based on the obtained information regarding the scheduled future event.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating provision of a determined need and/or initiating provision of a determined future need includes: determining a personal security, privacy and/or reputation consequence for the user of provision of the determined need and/or determined further need; and limiting provision of the determined need and/or determined further need based on the determined personal security, privacy and/or reputation consequence for the user.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein limiting provision comprises: notifying the user of the determined personal security, privacy and/or reputation consequence for the user; and obtaining authorization from the user before initiating provision of the determined need and/or determined further need.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic butler responds to inquiries relating to the user, provides information to the user regarding inquiries relating to the user, provides reminders of events to the user, requests additional information from a user, provides security for transactions for the user, conducts scheduled actions for the user and/or communicates with different application service providing modules to provide for determined needs for a user.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the input comprises ringing of a doorbell or electronic sensing of a visitor's presence at the user's residence and wherein the context comprises a household operating mode and wherein the obtained data comprises a preference/policy associated with the user and wherein the need comprises notifying the user and wherein the output comprises announcing the presence of a visitor at a location associated with the ringing of the doorbell or electronic presence sensing. 